Lead contamination

[ERdeerhunter]

I made the mistake of buying the Star Tribune yesterday and my wife stumbled across the story of lead contamination in venison. After taking the brunt of a 20 minute tirade about the safety of the venison I bring home, my wife informed me that she will no longer eat any venison (neither will my 5 month old son when he comes of age) until I stop using lead slugs and convince the other 17 members of my hunting group likewise (we all butcher together and divide shares evenly). Any thoughts on the topic?

[Scott Stein]

oh boy sounds like u got urself in a predicament idk what to say use a bow? haha j/k do they even make a slug thats not lead and i suppose if they do u pay outta ur @$$ for them

[snapcrackpop]

watch the presentation on the DNR's web site. It says that lead slugs were better (than rifle bullets) because they were less likely to fragment.

Better yet have her watch the presentation.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/lead/index.html

[ERdeerhunter]

Excellent, thank you.

[jkcmj]

I had an interesting expierence with a 12 gauge slug on the doe I shot Saturday. I found a bunch of light trama in the neck when I skun the hide down. I ended up finding a small crescent moon shaped piece of lead just under the hide of the neck? There was no obvious hole in the hide or pathway under it from the shoulder entrance wound. It obviously came from my slug, but with just a nick to the outer edge of the shoulder blade and good clean looking entrance and exit wounds, I would not have believed it would fragmant off that chunk. Oh well, it won't affect my eats any.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

the amount of lead would be SO minimal tell her not to worry, just another feeble attempt by the red star and tribune to scare the public

[Powerstroke]

Tell her the russians are coming and the martians are likely to abduct your child. I'm sure you can get those stories in the strib too.

[AHLHAWK81]

Based on what has been published, I am not convinced by the whole lead contamination issue and will continue to enjoy every bite of venison without fear. On the other hand, I have a question for all of you: Do you think commercial processing has the potential to sway the sample? We have always cut up our own deer and de-bone them. I was always taught to clean the shot up areas meticulously and dad is still a stickler about this. Nothing against commercial processing, just a question.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Still think commercial processing would make any amount so small. There was a story about it in American Hunter where they tested meat and found that individual vs commercial processing the amount of lead was about the same.

[DTro]

until I stop using lead slugs and convince the other 17 members of my hunting group likewise (

Your wife's name isn't Yoko is it?

Going to be tough to persuade her that there won't be any lead in the meat. All you can do is keep fighting the fight and maybe she'll see the light.

I offer my condolences.

[harvey lee]

We always butcher our own deer and never keep any meat that has a trama area in it. The majority of our deer kills are with a bow so I have no concerns.

[Black_Bay]

I watched the DNR study but I don't remember if they actually found lead or just assumed it was because of the X Rays. I'll have to watch it again when I have time. Does anyone know in the mean time?